Lt. Col. William Clement Drake Esdaile JP 14th January 1820 - 5th Dec 1899
"Simplified" family tree of Col WCD Esdaile and the various literary and other connections:
The Esdaile Notebook:
In London, on 2nd July 1962, the Carl H. Pforzheimer Library of New York bought the manuscript Esdaile notebook for £10,000. It contained 57 poems, written circa 1809-1813, of which only 14 had been previously published. For the previous 150 years it had been in the possession of the “Esdaile” descendants of Percy Bysshe Shelley.
The notebook had been given to Harriet by Shelley in 1815. Later inherited by their daughter Ianthe, who married Edward Jefferies Esdaile (WCD Esdaile’s brother). It was inherited by one of their three daughters (Eliza Margaret Esdaile), and on her death it was willed to her niece Mrs Lettice Worrall nee Esdaile (Shelley’s great-granddaughter).
The notebook had been given to Harriet by Shelley in 1815. Later inherited by their daughter Ianthe, who married Edward Jefferies Esdaile (WCD Esdaile’s brother). It was inherited by one of their three daughters (Eliza Margaret Esdaile), and on her death it was willed to her niece Mrs Lettice Worrall nee Esdaile (Shelley’s great-granddaughter).
WCD Esdaile was a barrister and became the owner of the Manor in 1852. He demolished the old building replacing it with the house we see today (albeit with later alterations and extensions). He was the founding secretary of The New Forest Association which was formed in 1867 ( New Forest Association ). He was a Verderer from 1878.
Rather like Thomas Eyre, information on WCD Esdaile is hard to find.
There is mention in The Christchurch Times of 26th Jan 1889 - "Lieut-Col William Clement Drake Esdaile, J.P., of Burley Manor, has been elected unopposed to the County Council for the Ringwood Division."
The Bucks Herald of 23rd April 1892 - "Col. Esdaile, of Burley Manor, Ringwood, writing to the Times describes the appearance of a very rare and beautiful water bird, the Ruddy Sheldrake. He says it is about the size of a goose, with golden neck and head, toning down to white towards the bill, which is lead colour, the whole body light cinnamon, except the rump, which is golden. There are black tips to the wings, and the legs are black. The bird stayed for a fortnight on a piece of water near Col Esdaile's house, with other wild ducks, and then disappeared."
There is mention in The Christchurch Times of 26th Jan 1889 - "Lieut-Col William Clement Drake Esdaile, J.P., of Burley Manor, has been elected unopposed to the County Council for the Ringwood Division."
The Bucks Herald of 23rd April 1892 - "Col. Esdaile, of Burley Manor, Ringwood, writing to the Times describes the appearance of a very rare and beautiful water bird, the Ruddy Sheldrake. He says it is about the size of a goose, with golden neck and head, toning down to white towards the bill, which is lead colour, the whole body light cinnamon, except the rump, which is golden. There are black tips to the wings, and the legs are black. The bird stayed for a fortnight on a piece of water near Col Esdaile's house, with other wild ducks, and then disappeared."